Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Jordan

CAPITAL
Amman.

LANGUAGE
Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken. French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken in many tourist areas.

RELIGION
Over 92% Sunni Muslim, with 2% Shi'a and Druze Muslim. A significant Greek Orthodox Christian minority (6%) resides mainly in the villages around the hill city of Madaba.

LOCAL TIME
Eastern European Time (EET) is 2 hours in front of GMT.

ELECTRICITY
220 volts. Both, round European-style two-pin plugs and square British-style three-pin plugs are used

PASSPORT & VISA
Visas are required by all foreigners entering Jordan. These are issued with a minimum of fuss at the border or airport on arrival for citizens of most countries including US & Canada. Note that visas are not issued at the King Hussein Bridge or Arava/Aqaba crossings if you plan to enter from Israel & the Palestinian Territories. Tourist visas are valid for three months (i.e. you must enter the country within three months of the date of issue) for stays of up to one month from the date of entry, but can be easily extended for stays of up to three months. Visas can also be obtained from Jordanian consulates or embassies outside the country. The only reason to apply for a visa from a Jordanian consulate or embassy is if you wish to obtain a multiple-entry visa, as these are not issued at the border, or if you plan to arrive via the King Hussein Bridge or Aqaba. Visa regulations are subject to change without notice so please check with your local embassy for current advice.

The cost of a Single-entry visa on arrival is currently: JD40

***Please note as of January 1, 2016, all passengers travelling to Petra, Jordan from Eilat require a visa to enter Jordan. The cost of the visa is approximately USD 60 per person. Please ensure that you apply for a visa through the Jordanian Consulate in your home country in order to avoid any problems, as applications will no doubt take time to process.
All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Passports are required; in addition travelers are advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding Visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY
Dinar (JOD; symbol JD) = 100 piastres or qirsh, or 1000 fils. Notes are in denominations of JD50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500 fils. Coins are in denominations of JD1, 1/2 and 1/4; 10, 5, 2 and 1/2 piastres; and 1 and 1/2 qirsh.
XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM
Banks and ATM's can be found almost everywhere in Jordan. Credit cards are accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels (with the exception of American Express cards which are not widely accepted). We recommend that you take either $US or GB£ currency. Traveler’s checks are not widely used and can be difficult to change.

CLOTHING
As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In Jordan's hot summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon. The winter is normally quite mild but in the north and especially in the hilly regions it can get quite cold with rainy spells. These, though, are usually interspersed with periods of brilliant sunshine. You should bear in mind that Jordan has conservative attitudes towards dress, particularly in remote areas such as Wadi Rum and Dana Nature Reserve. Women, and also to a certain extent men, will find that the way they dress will often determine the degree of respect they receive from both men and women. The issue is not nearly of such importance in ‘touristy’ areas, such as the Red Sea coast, where you can be just about as casual as you like. Make sure you bring lots of clothing that covers shoulders and knees and also more than one outfit which covers your legs to ankles and your arms past the elbows. A sarong is an invaluable item to carry as it can be used to instantly cover any exposed areas (i.e. head, legs). Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in very hot countries, night-time and early morning temperatures can be extremely cold. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth. A fleece can be invaluable.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Email
Internet cafes can now be found in most parts of Jordan. The cost for an hour is approx $US 5.

Phone
A 3 minute call (to the USA) will cost approx. $US 12 from a hotel and approx. $US 5 from a telephone centre.

Post
The postal service is good and stamps are available everywhere. An overseas stamp will cost approx. $US 1.

WEATHER & CLIMATE
The major characteristic of the climate is the contrast between a relatively rainy season from November to April and very dry weather for the rest of the year. With hot, dry, uniform summers and cool, variable winters during which practically all of the precipitation occurs, the country has a Mediterranean-style climate. The country's long summer reaches a peak during August. January is usually the coolest month. The fairly wide ranges of temperature during a twenty-four-hour period are greatest during the summer months and have a tendency to increase with higher elevation and distance from the Mediterranean seacoast. Daytime temperatures during the summer months frequently exceed 36° (Celsius) and average about 32° (Celsius). In contrast, the winter months (Nov-Apr) bring moderately cool and sometimes cold weather, averaging about 13° (Celsius). It occasionally snows in Amman.

Amman: (approx)

MEALS
Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack: US$5
• Light meal: US$10-18
• Fancy restaurant: US$25-40

DRINKS
Tea and coffee is provided with breakfast but all other drinks (i.e. bottled water and soft drinks) are at your own expense. Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below, but note that prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double those specified.

• 1l of water: US$2
• 30cl bottle of soft drink: US$2
• 50cl bottle of beer: US$7

It is not recommended that you drink the local tap water in Jordan. However, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices are widely available throughout the country.

FOOD
Jordanian cuisine shares many of the characteristics of Middle Eastern cooking but the inclusion of freshly made, local yoghurt and cheese adds a twist to the menu. Aubergines, chickpeas, lentils and beans turn up in many of the dishes and rice and khoubs (flat Arabic bread) are staples. Most restaurants have a mixed menu including Arabic and European dishes. Alcohol is served in most restaurants and bars, except during the fasting month of Ramadan (non-Muslim nationals can drink alcohol only in hotels during Ramadan).

Specialties:

• Mezze (a selection of starters that begin almost every main meal; they include fool, a thick stew made from broad beans; hummus, mashed chickpeas with tahini or sesame paste; moutabel, smoked aubergine dip; and tabbouleh, finely chopped parsley salad).
• Mensaf (Bedouin dish of stewed lamb in a yoghurt sauce which is normally eaten with the fingertips of the right hand).
• Maglouba (chicken with spices, including cinnamon, allspice, cardamom and nutmeg).
• Kibbe (deep fried ground lamb or beef dish combined with burghul (ground, steamed wheat), onion and cinnamon).
• Baklava (assorted honey-drizzled, nut-filled filo pastries eaten for dessert).
• Kunafeh (Palestinian speciality dessert of goat’s cheese layered with pastry, served warm and drenched in syrup).

Regional drinks:

• Arabic coffee (strong and served in small cups, it's more a tradition than a drink).
• Wine (thanks to the Christian minority, Jordan has a long tradition of wine-production).
• Araq (This local aniseed liquor is similar to Greek Ouzo; usually served mixed with water and ice).

Things to know:
If you’re at an upmarket restaurant, order a selection of mezze to begin – one or two per person at least – and follow-up with a main course or two of kebabs, grilled chicken or similar. Food is served whenever it is ready, so don’t expect it to all come at once – and don’t expect specific courses, either: just tuck in to whatever happens to be in front of you as soon as it arrives. Smaller restaurants or cafes in out of the way places may only serve hummus and/or some kind of meat dish – but wherever you are, you generally use pockets of flat bread to scoop up your food: forks and spoons are rarely used, other than for serving. When eating without cutlery, use your right hand only (the left hand is traditionally reserved for toilet matters).

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:
Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance from your travel agent. Health plans only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased.